.Third-round action at the USA Open begins along with a third-round face-off in between Ben Shelton and also Frances Tiafoe on Friday. Novak Djokovic and also Alexei Popyrin are actually likewise pursuing a spot in the proverbial 2nd week of the tournament.Here are my selections for 2 of Friday's finest matchups.( 13) Ben Shelton vs. (20) Frances Tiafoe.
It's a rematch of the final summer months's USA Open quarterfinals, and also this time around Shelton can be found in with some desires. In reality, he is the preferred against Tiafoe-- which had not been the scenario in 2023. Shelton was actually the underdog in their previous USA Open tilt, but he won it in four sets and also ended up being an unpleasant surprise semifinalist that delighted The big apple groups with his growing provide and also big-stage charisma.
Both Shelton and also Tiafoe are participating in properly right now. The past looked certain in his straight-set gain Roberto Bautista Agut on Wednesday. The 21-year-old made the quarterfinals at the Cincinnati Masters previously this month. Tiafoe created it all the way to the Cincy last before succumbing to Jannik Evildoer.
Shelton is actually a perfect 2-0 in the neck and neck set. Seek it to become 3-0 when this set ends.
Select: Shelton in 4( 28) Alexei Popyrin vs. (2) Novak DjokovicDjokovic and Popyrin will be actually squaring off at a third learn 2024 when they reunite on Friday. They additionally went head-to-head at the Australian Open as well as Wimbledon, with Djokovic doing the job in four collections both opportunities to take an overall 3-0 lead in the H2H collection. He likewise prevailed 6-4, 6-2 at the 2019 Tokyo activity.
As those very competitive Conquest experiences along with Djokovic signify, Popyrin is actually playing the most ideal ping pong of his job this year-- as well as it's not also close. He depends on 28th in the ranks thanks partially to an Expert thousand label in Montreal therefore much in NYC the Aussie has actually absolutely surged both Soonwoo Kwon as well as Pedro Martinez. Regrettably for Pop, Djoker has actually succeeded 18 embed in succession going back to the Olympics. The 24-time slam champ has not submitted a set to any person aside from Carlos Alcaraz due to the fact that he lost one to none apart from Popyrin in the Wimbledon third round.
Decide on: Djokovic in 3Ricky contributes to 10sballs. com as well as likewise sustains his very own tennis web site, The Grandstand. You can follow him on Twitter at @Dimonator.